District soccer play begins in Washington girls soccer

After a regular season that largely went true to form, will the high school girls soccer playoffs be any different? The favorites and underdogs will find out today, as district play opens at the 4A, 3A and 2A levels.

4A: Defending state champ Central Valley defended its Greater Spokane League title, overtaking Mt. Spokane the final week. Now the top-seeded Bears (13-1) open district play at home today at 5 p.m. against Lewis and Clark (10-5).

In the other first-round match, second-seeded Mead (9-6) is host to University (10-3), with the winner facing CV or LC on Saturday to decide the top two spots at regionals.

Today’s losers will square off on Saturday to decide the league’s third representative at regionals, which begin on Tuesday at Mid-Columbia Conference sites to be determined

3A: Thanks to realignment, the bracket is smaller in the 3A, where GSL runner-up Mt. Spokane (12-3) will host Shadle Park (5-9) today at 3:30 p.m. Both teams will advance to regionals, but the winner will host on Tuesday against an MCC team. The loser will travel.

2A: After finishing atop the Great Northern League with a 10-2 record, West Valley earned a spot in the district finals and a guaranteed spot in regionals.

The other four teams open district today, with No. 2 seed East Valley hosting No. 5 Pullman at 4 p.m. and No. 3 Clarkston at home against No. 4 Cheney at 3 p.m.

The winners will play on Saturday, with the survivor facing West Valley on Tuesday.